The second Gear Up Against Kids Cancer bike race will take place this Saturday, April 1, in Wilson County. Proceeds from the event will fund laboratory science at the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, which is part of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
“The event motto is ‘When Fighting Cancer, No Kid Rides Alone.’ That eloquently sums up the dedication of our researchers to find urgently needed cures for pediatric leukemias, Ewing sarcoma and many other childhood cancers,” said Patrick Sung, DPhil, Greehey Institute director.
Proceeds benefit pilot research programs at the Greehey Institute.
“This is seed money for sound, innovative ideas that need preliminary data to apply for research grants from the National Institutes of Health,” Sung said. “The grants will support proposals submitted by the Greehey Institute’s 19 laboratories and 25 faculty.”
The race starts and finishes at the Floresville River City Park, 756 Texas Highway 97, Floresville, Texas 78114. The race begins at 8 a.m. and people have until 7:45 that morning to register. Registration is $60 a person. Children should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
As of late March, 264 riders were signed up, besting last year’s total of 202 riders. So far 21 teams are riding this year. Riders have their choice of 28-, 40- and 60-mile routes.
The race is held in conjunction with the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio.
Register at GearUp AgainstKidsCancer.org.
The Greehey Institute thanks more than 40 race volunteers from the following schools, centers and departments of UT Health San Antonio:
- School of Nursing
- Long School of Medicine Dean’s Office
- Department of Radiology
- UT Police Department
- Accounting
- Facilities Management
- Mays Cancer Center
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology
- Department of Health Sciences’ Medical Laboratory Sciences programs
- Department of Urology
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine